Kelli D!!
Shoot me an e-mail at TallDeamsDesign@gmail.com so I can get your candy in the mail!
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Card Cupids Valentine's Day Appreciation Blog Tour
Welcome to the Card Cupids Appreciation Blog Tour!
If you have just hopped on the tour, please go to the first stop Card Cupids (www.cardcupids.org/blog). If you have arrived from Heather's blog, http://franklintngirl.
Card Cupids mission is to provide encouragement and joy by sending Card Cuddle Care Packages to children who are facing difficult challenges in their young lives regardless of their economic background. Card Cupids believes that every child needs to know that they are loved. A stuffed animal to hold, along with cards that share a positive message can help lift the spirits of children that are faced with difficult challenges. Card Cupids collects handmade cards to be sent to children along with new stuffed animals, coloring books, activity books, crayons and markers. Card Cupids hopes to provide numerous Card Cuddle Care Packages to children in hospitals, foster care, homeless shelters as well as children facing difficulties.
Our Blog Tour theme today is Valentine’s projects for children.
The name of the Project I will be showing you today is Heart Strings
Items needed:
Heavy cardstock/cardboard
Pen or pencil
Scissors
Valentine's paper (solid colors will do)
Adhesive
String or twine
Optional:
Decorative scissors
Embellishments
The exact project that I am using for my photos today is a heart string made by myself and my two year old son, Huck. I did the cutting, he "helped" with the adhesive gun, and he put the embellishments where he wanted to. Needless to say he thought it was the coolest thing in the world.
The first thing you will need to do is cut out a pattern for your hearts. Just free hand draw it, you can also use a large punch if you would like.
Heavy cardstock/cardboard
Pen or pencil
Scissors
Valentine's paper (solid colors will do)
Adhesive
String or twine
Optional:
Decorative scissors
Embellishments
The exact project that I am using for my photos today is a heart string made by myself and my two year old son, Huck. I did the cutting, he "helped" with the adhesive gun, and he put the embellishments where he wanted to. Needless to say he thought it was the coolest thing in the world.
The first thing you will need to do is cut out a pattern for your hearts. Just free hand draw it, you can also use a large punch if you would like.
Next to make cutting faster and more uniform, first triple your fold, then trace your pattern and cut.
After you cut out three hearts for each piece on your string(you need a minimum of 12 hearts), fold the straight line of the heart in toward the center to form a small flap. Repeat this on all the hearts.
Once all are folder you are going to apply adhesive on the white side of the tab and adhere it to a second one.
Repeat this with two more hearts.
Connect your three hearts together to form a circle.
Repeat with at least three more heart sets. Making sure that there are pairs of two in size.
Cut out two pieces of heavy cardstock or cardboard. I am just using some scrap cardboard. Keep in mind the longer they are the winder your Heart Strings will be. Poke medium size holes about one quarter of an inch from each end and through the middle of both. They do not need to look clean because you will be covering them with paper.
Poke small holes in each of your hearts where the centers dip down, and thread equal length strings through them. Find the ends of all threads and string through one of the holes in the end of your cardboard piece. Repeat with a three piece heart of the same size on the opposite side of the cardboard piece. Then repeat the entire process with the other cardboard strip. Then adhere paper over the cardboard to cover the knots. Then adhere the two pieces of cardboard into an X shape.
You can very the lengths of the hearts however you choose. Tie a loop through the middle holes of the cardboard for hanging. If the Heart String is not balanced then simple put a few pieces of paper into a heart to even it out.
Huck chose scraps of lace, pink ribbon, pearls and rhinestones to decorate his hearts.
This is a simple and nice decoration that can be made both for and with a wonderful child in your life. It is also able to be folded down so that you can ship it fairly easily in the mail. Of course you can also make them much more decorative, but I love the feel that the touch of a child makes on anything and I think imperfection is perfect!
Blog candy
I am offering some blog candy for grabs!!! Here is a picture of part of the prize, a mini album, with another surprise gift not pictured. Total prize is worth over $15 dollars. To enter you need to become a follower if you aren't already and leave me a comment. That simple.
Thanks for stopping by today! The secret word from my stop is children. Remember, to win the Blog Tour prize you have to email the secret sentences to info@cardcupids.org by 11:59 pm February 14 with subject: Blog Tour Prize.
Now hop back on the tour bus to visit your next stop Janet at her blog http://paperhoot.blogspot.com/, I know you will just love her site! Come back and visit real soon!
Card Cupids is collecting handmade cards, new stuffed animals, coloring/activity books, crayons and markers for Absolutely Incredible Kids Day on March 15 as well as cards for Kate and Christopher and their siblings. If you would like to donate handmade cards or care package items, please visit Card Cupids (www.cardcupids.org) for more information.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Daily Inspiration
Blizzard of ''11
I am a Michigander, and the only weather report we trust is when someone sticks their head out of the door and then reports whether or not their nose is frozen off. The wind is a kicking it through the trees, and howling away. No snow as of yet. I have to admit it is looking like we are going to be knee deep in snow by morning, or I guess hip deep because my backyard is already to my knees. Oh well it is winter and we live in the north....I wouldn't want it any other way.
The daily inspiration piece is to be used to encourage creativity. The item will not be used in a piece physically, it will only be "INSPIRATION." Use the color, the shape, the feelings it provokes to make your master piece. All inspiration pieces will be posted together on Saturday next to their inspired works of art.
Have a great day, and stay warm if you are in the storms path.
Janel
Sunday, January 23, 2011
A New Card Cupid
Card Cupids has another child that they are collecting cards for, his name is Jonathan and he is 5. He is currently in the hospital having recently been diagnosed with Guillain-Barre Syndrome. It is a rare auto-immune disease that attacks his nerves. It can cause muscle weakness, paralysis and breathing problems. Please check out the Card Cupids website at http://www.cardcupids.org/ for information about Jonathan and all of the other cuties, as well as info on how to donate cards.
Looking for some handmade gifts, check out the Card Cupids Etsy Store. Money will go towards stuffed animals and mailing costs. There are some beautiful albums and digi-stamps, but I'm sure the albums won't last long.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Untruths #1
Set in my ways....
At what point in your life do you say...."I'm set in my ways"?
Truth is if everyone reflected on their life they would realize that it is probably completely different from everyone else's response. The point is we are not pre-set to become ridgid in thinking at a certain time in our lives. And since there is no button that gets pushed that says okay...I'm done reviewing myself...no need to reconsider anymore, that means that we don't have to be set in our ways at all.
Now let me tell you a little bit about how I define being "set in your ways". It is a person who has beliefs, a way of doing a task, reactions to people or events, that for the most part remain the same no matter what knew knowledge is gained. For example, (for those of you who know me you will probably roll your eyes at this and say here she goes again) decades ago the health risks of smoking were becoming well known. And people said, well I've already smoked for ten years so why should I stop now. Now I'm not talking about the addiction factor in this equation. I'm talking about the type of person who says out loud to others, "what difference will it make? I've already smoked for 10 years." When what they are actually thinking is, it will be work to try and quit, it will disrupt the way my life it set...and if I change my mind on this maybe I will change my mind about other things as well. And that is scary!
Lets try another example. Parents who both work full time jobs and have pretty busy lives and also have two children. It is so very easy and convenient to stop by a fast food place on the way home every night, or even every other night to pick up dinner. It has become a set routine for them, maybe once in a while they think about how unhealthy their eating habits are, but for the most part it never crosses their minds, it's just what they do. They are set in the way the eat. Then a program about obesity in America comes on the television and takes about the issues that children can have from eating too much fast food. The parents already know that the food is bad, but there is a habit set, and it would take too much for them to change their ways. Again it would be work, and a lot of it, do they want more work? But do they want to stay stagnent in their way either? How much healthier would they be? How much more energy to do more things would they have?
Now these are the type of examples that happen everyday all around the world, some with different subjects and some with the same.
Then there are others, ones that have even farther reaching consequences. Just a few of these are racism, sexism, greed, and oppression. People with completely distorted believes about a group of people can change their beliefs and become what most call as "reformed" with a lot of work. When I say work I mean self work.
So what is my point in all of this? It's this the "ways" that I have talked about are large issues, and not everybody has those, but everyone has the little ones. It may be that you scream at any slow driver on the road every chance you get! You just don't understand how they could give any dumby a drivers license. Is that helping anyone? Your blood pressure just went through the roof and as you are looking so hard into the car you are now passing you almost brake too late for a car that is slowing down to turn. You hate your commute to work because of all the bad drivers out there! Yet everyday you choose to react the same way, you choose to be set in your ways. Just think of all the things you are missing on your daily commute everyday, maybe instead of fuming at the slow driver when you pull up to a light, you missed a family waiting to cross the street with a little girl that was waving her hand off. So what right? But think about it, if a cute little girl waves to you, even if you don't wave back, it's going to make you smile...and we all know what a smile can do...it can change the world. Maybe you missed the new billboard advertising your husbands favorite band coming to town, and by the time you hear in on the radio...well...the tickets are sold out. Will it be hard to have patience with the "bad" drivers...will it take a while to change your response to them...YES! It will be hard work! But anything worth while in life takes hard work to accomplish.
So this is what I am going to be doing to try and help myself to stay flexible and not be so set in my ways. I'm going to respond to things positively, when I feel myself thinking bad about another, or feeling bad about myself, I'm going to find something positive. Normally something negative can change my mood for the whole day, sometimes week, but not anymore. I'm going to focus on the positive. Sound corny doesn't it, well, that's okay, because it works. Don't knock it until you try it, and if you do, you will see a huge change in your life. Negative things happen to everyone, that's life, but those that respond in a positive way have so many more opportunities that open up to them simply because their energy wasn't being used up by hiding or hating.
And I'm not going to let new information or technology just go by the wayside because I am used to thinking or believing a certain way about something. I agree to evolve with knowledge! I agree to review my beliefs from time to time and re-examine my life. I will not become stagnant!
Untruth-You can't change because you are set in your ways
Truth- Anyone can change. All you have to do is make the change!
I love feedback leave me a post of send me a message about how you are going to not allow yourself to become too set in your ways.
Janel
At what point in your life do you say...."I'm set in my ways"?
Truth is if everyone reflected on their life they would realize that it is probably completely different from everyone else's response. The point is we are not pre-set to become ridgid in thinking at a certain time in our lives. And since there is no button that gets pushed that says okay...I'm done reviewing myself...no need to reconsider anymore, that means that we don't have to be set in our ways at all.
Now let me tell you a little bit about how I define being "set in your ways". It is a person who has beliefs, a way of doing a task, reactions to people or events, that for the most part remain the same no matter what knew knowledge is gained. For example, (for those of you who know me you will probably roll your eyes at this and say here she goes again) decades ago the health risks of smoking were becoming well known. And people said, well I've already smoked for ten years so why should I stop now. Now I'm not talking about the addiction factor in this equation. I'm talking about the type of person who says out loud to others, "what difference will it make? I've already smoked for 10 years." When what they are actually thinking is, it will be work to try and quit, it will disrupt the way my life it set...and if I change my mind on this maybe I will change my mind about other things as well. And that is scary!
Lets try another example. Parents who both work full time jobs and have pretty busy lives and also have two children. It is so very easy and convenient to stop by a fast food place on the way home every night, or even every other night to pick up dinner. It has become a set routine for them, maybe once in a while they think about how unhealthy their eating habits are, but for the most part it never crosses their minds, it's just what they do. They are set in the way the eat. Then a program about obesity in America comes on the television and takes about the issues that children can have from eating too much fast food. The parents already know that the food is bad, but there is a habit set, and it would take too much for them to change their ways. Again it would be work, and a lot of it, do they want more work? But do they want to stay stagnent in their way either? How much healthier would they be? How much more energy to do more things would they have?
Now these are the type of examples that happen everyday all around the world, some with different subjects and some with the same.
Then there are others, ones that have even farther reaching consequences. Just a few of these are racism, sexism, greed, and oppression. People with completely distorted believes about a group of people can change their beliefs and become what most call as "reformed" with a lot of work. When I say work I mean self work.
So what is my point in all of this? It's this the "ways" that I have talked about are large issues, and not everybody has those, but everyone has the little ones. It may be that you scream at any slow driver on the road every chance you get! You just don't understand how they could give any dumby a drivers license. Is that helping anyone? Your blood pressure just went through the roof and as you are looking so hard into the car you are now passing you almost brake too late for a car that is slowing down to turn. You hate your commute to work because of all the bad drivers out there! Yet everyday you choose to react the same way, you choose to be set in your ways. Just think of all the things you are missing on your daily commute everyday, maybe instead of fuming at the slow driver when you pull up to a light, you missed a family waiting to cross the street with a little girl that was waving her hand off. So what right? But think about it, if a cute little girl waves to you, even if you don't wave back, it's going to make you smile...and we all know what a smile can do...it can change the world. Maybe you missed the new billboard advertising your husbands favorite band coming to town, and by the time you hear in on the radio...well...the tickets are sold out. Will it be hard to have patience with the "bad" drivers...will it take a while to change your response to them...YES! It will be hard work! But anything worth while in life takes hard work to accomplish.
So this is what I am going to be doing to try and help myself to stay flexible and not be so set in my ways. I'm going to respond to things positively, when I feel myself thinking bad about another, or feeling bad about myself, I'm going to find something positive. Normally something negative can change my mood for the whole day, sometimes week, but not anymore. I'm going to focus on the positive. Sound corny doesn't it, well, that's okay, because it works. Don't knock it until you try it, and if you do, you will see a huge change in your life. Negative things happen to everyone, that's life, but those that respond in a positive way have so many more opportunities that open up to them simply because their energy wasn't being used up by hiding or hating.
And I'm not going to let new information or technology just go by the wayside because I am used to thinking or believing a certain way about something. I agree to evolve with knowledge! I agree to review my beliefs from time to time and re-examine my life. I will not become stagnant!
Untruth-You can't change because you are set in your ways
Truth- Anyone can change. All you have to do is make the change!
I love feedback leave me a post of send me a message about how you are going to not allow yourself to become too set in your ways.
Janel
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
I'm Working on IT
With the new year always comes tons of New Years Resolutions. Many people want to loose weight or put an end to a bad habit, or ever start a good one. I however have never resolved to do anything when a new year comes around. I do however always find myself in retrospect of the previous year...accomplishments, joys, sorrow and even failures.
This year needs to be different! Partly because we are working towards some major changes in our lives and partly because I have a list of things I want to accomplish in my life that is 3 miles long.
I've always been a person who set goals, and sometimes achieved them, and sometimes I didn't. Then I realized something while drinking some hot chocolate and watching my children play...I wasn't setting the right type of goals.
Get into shape - okay
Be able to run 5 miles by March 1st - great
Sell more items - okay
Make a specific business plan by February 1st thus leading to more sales - great
I also wasn't focused on what I trully needed to be...me. I set quick and fast goals, but I never took the time to set "real" goals for myself. The kids, of course, layed out a whole plan for the year, and even somewhat for my husband too, how I will help him achieve some of his goals, by me...nope. We forget in our busy lives that our souls/spirits/hearts and minds need to be cultivated and cared for. I know as a mother there are tons of things that I put off in my daily routine that are for myself. Sometimes...all I want is to sit for even 5 minutes drinking a cup of coffee by myself in my recliner. And just as I sit down, someone wants to play, needs help getting water, or in the bathroom...the list goes on. Then there are the other times, when I have the chance to take 5 minutes, but choose to do the dishes or put away clothes instead...my mother had a cross-stitched rainbow that was made by her cousin that hang in the kitchen for years..."the rainbow won't wait while you do the work, but the work will wait while you show the child the rainbow." I'm not sure who is accedited with this, but it is so true. It's okay for me to not get a coffee break when someone is in need, but when something isn't needed, then it is not okay.
So this year my one resolution is....I am working on it, me!
My goals will be focused around what I trully need to do to cultivate myself as a woman and all that entails.
Part of that includes providing more inspiration to the people around me, both physically on on the internet.
Next post in this series: "Set In My Ways"
Check in often for inspiration for your soul and art.
JAEV
This year needs to be different! Partly because we are working towards some major changes in our lives and partly because I have a list of things I want to accomplish in my life that is 3 miles long.
I've always been a person who set goals, and sometimes achieved them, and sometimes I didn't. Then I realized something while drinking some hot chocolate and watching my children play...I wasn't setting the right type of goals.
Get into shape - okay
Be able to run 5 miles by March 1st - great
Sell more items - okay
Make a specific business plan by February 1st thus leading to more sales - great
I also wasn't focused on what I trully needed to be...me. I set quick and fast goals, but I never took the time to set "real" goals for myself. The kids, of course, layed out a whole plan for the year, and even somewhat for my husband too, how I will help him achieve some of his goals, by me...nope. We forget in our busy lives that our souls/spirits/hearts and minds need to be cultivated and cared for. I know as a mother there are tons of things that I put off in my daily routine that are for myself. Sometimes...all I want is to sit for even 5 minutes drinking a cup of coffee by myself in my recliner. And just as I sit down, someone wants to play, needs help getting water, or in the bathroom...the list goes on. Then there are the other times, when I have the chance to take 5 minutes, but choose to do the dishes or put away clothes instead...my mother had a cross-stitched rainbow that was made by her cousin that hang in the kitchen for years..."the rainbow won't wait while you do the work, but the work will wait while you show the child the rainbow." I'm not sure who is accedited with this, but it is so true. It's okay for me to not get a coffee break when someone is in need, but when something isn't needed, then it is not okay.
So this year my one resolution is....I am working on it, me!
My goals will be focused around what I trully need to do to cultivate myself as a woman and all that entails.
Part of that includes providing more inspiration to the people around me, both physically on on the internet.
Next post in this series: "Set In My Ways"
Check in often for inspiration for your soul and art.
JAEV
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Card Cupids
Hello everyone! There have been lots of new developments in my Scrappy Life as of late. I cannot wait to share all of the excitement with you later on this week. Stay tuned for some inspiration.
By the way, have you been to the Card Cupids site lately? There is some awesome candy up for grabs...check out the Valentine's Day challenge at http://www.cardcupids.org/blog/?p=13. It is a great way to be creative and bring a smile to a child in need.
By the way, have you been to the Card Cupids site lately? There is some awesome candy up for grabs...check out the Valentine's Day challenge at http://www.cardcupids.org/blog/?p=13. It is a great way to be creative and bring a smile to a child in need.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
A Brand New Year with a Good 'Ole Computer
My computer has been overhauled just in time for the starting of this wonderful New Year!
I have to admit that 2010 was a stuggle speckled with some of the most wonderous joys! The main joy of 2010 was the welcoming of our 3rd child and son, Bear Bryant. The love and smiles that he provide us everyday along with Cole and Huck's never ending love has helped us to endure the loss of many friends and family member, both young and old.
All of these expiriences have helped us to be even more greatful for the loving and healthy family that we have. Everyday I thank our creator for blessing us with such true love. My hope for you is that you will have more joy than sorrow, and more love than heart ache is this year, 2011.
People who will be greatly missed:
Aunt Evelyn
Aunt Sheila
Emily Lynn
Vinny S.
Carson Jay
Dale C.
Beautiful additions:
Bear Bryant
Grace Lynn
Isabel
Joys that we are waiting to hold in our arms are:
Baby Ellis
Baby Moran
I have to admit that 2010 was a stuggle speckled with some of the most wonderous joys! The main joy of 2010 was the welcoming of our 3rd child and son, Bear Bryant. The love and smiles that he provide us everyday along with Cole and Huck's never ending love has helped us to endure the loss of many friends and family member, both young and old.
All of these expiriences have helped us to be even more greatful for the loving and healthy family that we have. Everyday I thank our creator for blessing us with such true love. My hope for you is that you will have more joy than sorrow, and more love than heart ache is this year, 2011.
People who will be greatly missed:
Aunt Evelyn
Aunt Sheila
Emily Lynn
Vinny S.
Carson Jay
Dale C.
Beautiful additions:
Bear Bryant
Grace Lynn
Isabel
Joys that we are waiting to hold in our arms are:
Baby Ellis
Baby Moran
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